Hurricane Ike Claims: What to do

It has been nearly six months since Hurricane Ike made landfall. The damage that Hurricane Ike caused to many home and land owners throughout the Houston and Galveston area was tremendous. If you are one of the many who suffered a loss from Hurricane Ike, you have most likely made a claim with your insurance company in order to recover the funds needed to rebuild and repair your damage. A large amount of these types of claims have been settled in a timely fashion by the insurance companies. However, we are still getting calls from homeowners that are still waiting on the insurance company to pay them the money to repair their homes so they can move on with their lives. In fact, we are currently representing clients who, through no fault of their own, are still waiting for the money to make the necessary repairs to their home. Some of our clients have been out of their homes for nearly six months. These are cases where the damage to the clients' homes was great and clearly caused by Hurricane Ike.

Insurance companies, no matter how big they are, must settle claims in a timely fashion and in good faith. If an insurance company has denied, underpaid or is not settling your Hurricane Ike insurance claim, you may be entitled to compensation in the amount of the original claim and possibly even more. The Texas Insurance Code has some teeth to keep the insurance companies from taking advantage of consumers and businesses alike. The Texas Insurance Code also imposes duties on your insurance company when handling your Hurricane Ike claim. Your insurance company has a legal duty to handle your claim promptly, fairly and without misleading you. If your Hurricane Ike claim has been denied, improperly delayed, or you have been misled, you have rights under the insurance code, in addition to other common law rights.

Despite the fact that the insurance code imposes these duties and provides very hefty penalties for insurers who engage in bad faith, we are seeing bad faith in the cases that we review more often than not. This is especially true if you still have an outstanding insurance claim related to Hurricane Ike.

Rather than trying to deal with the insurance company alone, we recommend that you contact one of our lawyers to discuss the facts of your particular dispute. If you are still awaiting your insurance proceeds for the damage that was caused by Ike, you probably have a situation where the insurer is engaging in bad faith. Currently, Abraham Watkins is accepting the following types of Hurricane Ike insurance dispute cases:

improper denial of claims

underpayment of claims

bad adjusters, including aggressive, deceptive, or negligent practices by your insurance company

Awards & Recognition

The Equal Access to Justice Champions Program was started by the Houston Bar Association in 2006, to help ensure placement of Houston Volunteer Lawyers cases with pro bono volunteers. Originally, firms were tiered according to size, and firms within each tier committed to accept a certain number of pro bono cases from HVL each year for five years.

The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 is an invitation-only organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from each state or region who meet stringent qualifications as civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense trial lawyers. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase objective and uniformly applied process which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research.

Established in 1993, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum (which includes the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum) is one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. There are over 4000 members throughout the country. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members.

Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

In order to earn the Lead Counsel Rating, an attorney must not only demonstrate significant legal experience, but must also receive multiple peer recommendations advocating his or her ability. This is a key component in the screening process.

Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers in Texas via a patented multiphase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research and peer evaluation. The Texas lawyers who receive the highest point totals during this selection process are further recognized in Texas Super Lawyers Top Lists.

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The firm successfully represented nearly 100 victims who suffered personal injuries and damages to property from a large fire and explosion resulting in a settlement of more than $50 million. The firm served as lead lawyers on the steering committee in this litigation.

$80 Million Personal Injury Large Plant Explosion

The firm successfully represented 270 plaintiffs', taking a lead role in the plaintiffs' steering committee, who suffered injuries in a large plant explosion resulting in a settlement of nearly $80 million.

$50+ Million Personal Injury Plant Fire and Explosion

The firm successfully represented 45 personal injury victims in a plant fire and explosion, serving on the plaintiffs' steering committee, concluding with a settlement of more than $50 million.

$22+ Million Personal Injury Work Site Accident

The firm prevailed in a personal injury trial for a worksite injury client with the jury returning a verdict and resulting in a judgment of over $22 million for the firm's client.

$12 Million Auto Accident 18-Wheeler Collision

The firm successfully achieved a $12 million settlement for the family of a man who died in an 18 wheeler collision.

$30 Million Personal Injury Burn Victims

The firm prevailed on behalf of three burn victims with settlements totaling nearly $30 million.

Our Record Of Success.

When you are hurt and you choose a law firm to represent you in court or at the negotiation table, you need to carefully consider the firm's record.